Paris-Roubaix Challenge - cobbled roads in the UK?

Last week I accidentally entered the Paris-Roubaix Challenge - a mere 90 miles of mud and cobbles next April.

So now I’m looking for cobbled roads in the UK to do a bit of training on - and to get a feel for the bumps. Anyone got any suggestions? I’m based in the Southwest, looking in the region roughly bordered by Bristol, Gloucester, Swindon, Salisbury, Shaftsbury, Radstock.

I know about some of the cobbled hills in central Bristol, the Cobble Wobble hill in Frome, Gold Hill in Shaftsbury, but ideally I’m looking for longish flattish sections of cobbles. (And I know British cobbles aren’t the same as French pave', but you’ve got to start somewhere…)

Any suggestions for cobbled roads, or maybe just rutted roads that replicate pave', much appreciated. Thanks.

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monty dog[463 posts]5 years ago

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The only tracks that I know that are rough enough to simulate P-RX are some of the Southdowns Way where the tracks are essentially fist-sized loose flints - I've not found any paved tracks that are rough enough. Blasting around forestry fire roads on my old road bike was good practise for L'Eroica though.
To develop your strength, try riding a slight gradient whilst seated well back in the saddle on the biggest gear you can muster - focus on getting the power down through the quads whilst gripping the tops of the bars. Most people find the pave hardest on their arms and wrists, followed by their backside - if you develop the quad and arm power you can drive the pedals whilst keeping your ar$e slightly off the saddle and cushion yourself slightly from the pain.
Also, if you hit potholes square-on, it'll simulate some of the impact and jarring!

Try any of the inner city roads in England, there are so many pot holes it feels like cobbles.

Only joking, there's none i'm aware of in the North East but if you've got a mountain bike some of the forest trails are good to try in the winter as they get quite rutted. Whatever you try good luck with the race !

Shame you didn't live up where I am, there's a few unclassified roads I get to use that the surface is totally beat up. I get to cover climbs, flats and decents on these, getting a bit hairy in places and still no signs of resurfacing, but sure sorts out the arms

As part of my research, today I went along the canal path east of Bath. Usually, I seek the smoothest course by weaving around and avoiding the rough stony sections. Today I just charged across the top of the stones in my biggest gear. Nowhere near as bad as French cobbles, of course, but a taste of things to come...

I doubt there are many worthwhile cobbled sections of roads left. Why not bring the bike across the river. Many of the graveled tracks in the Forest of Dean have got large stones as a base. As the gravel has worn away over the years you can find long stretches of solid but rough rock. Riding them is definitly an aquired taste and skill on a road/cx bike.

@giff77 - when you say ‘up here’, where do you mean? I used to ride in the Derbyshire/Yorkshire/Cheshire area and still often venture back to those regions.

@mattsccm - the Forest of Dean is certainly within striking distance. Gravel roads are a different beast, and not really the right prep for Paris-Roubaix, I think, but those stretches of rough rock sound like they might be something like. Can you provide any more pointers on locations?

@Fringe - thanks for the link. It’s making me feel so much better. Especially the picture of the bleeding hands.

David, it's not in any way cobbled but there's a perimeter road around much of the Salisbury Plain military area. It goes on for miles and miles and it's rough. It's good training for cobbles. Just make sure the red flag isn't flying or you might cop a stray bullet.

David, it's not in any way cobbled but there's a perimeter road around much of the Salisbury Plain military area. It goes on for miles and miles and it's rough. It's good training for cobbles. Just make sure the red flag isn't flying or you might cop a stray bullet.

Yeah, 20-odd years ago you'd definitely have been advised to steer clear when I was on the range

Mat's obviously too modest to mention it but you'll also want to read his experience of hitting the Paris-Roubaix cobbles with Team Sky earlier this year.

I can't think of anywhere that would accurately replicate the EVIL CHUNKS OV STONEY DETH that cover the P-R route, although a turn around the cathedral close in Exeter would be pretty close. Not in your patch though and the tourists might comment. You might like to try some rough off-road bridleways, that might be reasonably close.

If I was you I would sit butt naked on a pneumatic drill for a few hours...give you some idea how tender you will fell after the ride. I've watched some videos of the Paris Roubaix, one where the guys saddle fell off...Couldn't make up my mind if he was better off without it to be honest! Good on you though, one hell of a challenge. Best of luck

With some of my buddies (also training for Paris-Roubaix) I have indeed been riding on bridleways and byways recently - notably some all-day jaunts up and down the off-road sections of the Fosse Way and Ridgeway. But these routes are mainly loose gravel, compact stones, chalky mud or wet grass. It can’t harm the training of course, but I think they’re simply not rough enough to give a feel for the aforementioned EVIL CHUNKS OV STONEY DETH.

Mat - I will investigate the Salisbury Plain perimeter road. I have ridden across the Plain a few times on the Imber road that is usually closed to the public - and some of that is broken concrete and quite rough. If the perimeter road is like that, then it will be pretty handy, as you say.

Failing everything, then I’m off down the tool hire shop to get a pneumatic drill to sit on, as recommended by shollin. If it doesn’t help for Paris-Roubaix, at least I can send the video to Jackass.

I'm in Paisley, Scotland. The Campsies, Trossachs are within an hour cycle of me. Some of my local routes going into Ayrshire and Inverclyde are pretty much beat up once you get off the A and B roads. The various councils are pretty reluctant to repair

@ Fringe - thanks for the interest. A few people have emailed me to ask the same question. Training is going well. Several long steady rides over the past month, some in Flanders-like conditions, interspersed with turbo sessions. The nearest we've got to pave' has been several furious laps round the cobbled quadrangle of Queens Sq in Bristol (much to the bemusement of passing Christmas shoppers) and a couple of rides taking in the miltary roads over Salisbury Plain (normally closed to the public, but open end-Dec early-Jan). Still nothing that comes close to the infamous boulders we'll encounter on the Paris-Roubaix, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

Thanks Rob. Yes, as you say, not flat, but we have got a plan to include it in a training ride soon, just for fun. Likewise the famous Gold (aka 'Hovis') Hill in Shaftsbury. Any other suggestions for close-to-cobbles rough-as-hell roads in the Westcountry all much appreciated.

Meanwhile, here's another question for anyone who might have done this ride, or similar jaunts. Glasses or not?
Sure, they keep the mud out yer eyes, but are they likely to get so splattered it'll be like riding blindfold? Any thoughts and advice most welcome.

I'm doing the P-R Cyclo in June... is the April one the proper competitive one then?

David Else wrote:

Glasses or not? Sure, they keep the mud out yer eyes, but are they likely to get so splattered it'll be like riding blindfold? Any thoughts and advice most welcome.

I always ride with glasses myself - on the rare occasions they turn out to be more trouble than they're worth they just go in a jersey pocket (generally I'd rather ride with a compromised view than end up in a big stack by getting suddenly blinded by some lump of airborne stuff).

I'd also suggest Compeed patches for the bits where your hoods are going to rub your gloves against your hands (probably worth establishing where this is in advance). Or, at least, that's what I'm going with to prevent the stigmata - I have a lump on my foot where I need to use them for anything more than a couple of miles' walking, and they work really well. I suspect anything to prevent the friction of glove on hand will be of use. I may also load up my gloves with Vaseline or minty arse lard, but this may be a personal affectation.